BATAVIA — Two of the largest capital investment projects in Genesee County history, collectively exceeding $350 million, have the opportunity to receive tax credits to bring these projects to Pembroke and Alabama.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board heard representatives from the two projects speak about the proposal Thursday afternoon, and the board accepted both tax relief applications.
Jeff Martin, president of Geis Construction, the design and development firm of Geis Companies in Streetsboro, Ohio, talks about working with Horizon Acres Associates to build six flexible retail and commercial properties right off the thruway exit. We talked about a $142 million distribution center with industrial facilities. His 48A Interchange in Pembroke.
Horizon Acres is proposing a three-phase development to build six flex commercial/industrial facilities totaling 1.5 million square feet at 8524 Allegany Road. The first phase will construct two of his buildings of approximately 280,000 square feet each. The second phase will include two buildings of 280,000 square feet and 100,000 square feet. The final phase will see the construction of two more buildings of 280,000 square feet each.
Mr Martin said Geis Companies is the property manager.
“We work for our own portfolio, but we also offer the same services to independent developers,” says Martin. He said Horizon Acres president Aaron Goldklang had identified a location near Pembroke’s thruway as the project location.
“We are entering the market and targeting the market with a flexible and disruptive industrial flex base,” said Martin. “There seems to be a shortage of square footage in this market, between 25,000 and 280,000 square feet. We design our parks for efficient traffic flow. We are confident that STAMP will support manufacturing clients and provide a final place for manufacturing and service industries to serve.The proximity to STAMP is also a very attractive aspect of this project.”
The proposed project is currently conceptual, Martin said.
Sean Hopkins, attorney for Hopkins Sorgi & McCarthy PLLC in East Aurora, the project’s attorney, said one of the key things about the location near Thruway is that it has millions of customers within a short drive. said.
“One of the questions that always comes up before IDA (Industrial Development Agency) Board meetings is the ‘but’ test. So it’s like, ‘Is there a benefit you’re looking for… it’s essential for this project to move forward. is yes,” he said.
Hopkins said site plan approval from the Pembroke City Planning Commission will be required before the project can proceed.
Horizon Acres is seeking an estimated $6.2 million sales tax exemption, an estimated $11.9 million property tax relief, and an estimated $1.1 million mortgage tax exemption.
On Thursday, in addition to the GCEDC board accepting the tax relief application, project officials met with the Genesee County Planning Commission to recommend approval of the site plan with a few amendments. First, the applicant, Metzger Civil Engineering, PLLC, obtained a permit from the State DOT for the proposed driveway, and Metzger, in cooperation with the State Department of Transportation (DOT), proposed a traffic impact study project by stakeholders. to implement the recommendations. The other is for the Pembroke City Planning Commission to obtain comments from the Pembroke Fire Department on the proposed Site Plan Approval Application before it is approved by the city planners.
There are currently no tenants for the Flex 6 facility. The developer plans to build the facility in three phases over about 10 years, depending on market conditions. In the first phase, the project is expected to have about 154 vehicles in and out during the morning peak, and he will have 41 vehicles in and 136 vehicles out during the evening peak. Under full development of all three phases, the project is expected to have approximately 354 vehicles entering and exiting the site during the morning peak and 106 entering and exiting the site at 335 during the evening peak.
“The study found that the existing transportation network is sufficient to handle the projected traffic volume, and as a result, the impact on the intersections in the study area where the aforementioned mitigation measures have been implemented will be minor,” he said. The results of the impact study stated:
This study examined the intersections of Route 77 and Thruway Exit 48A Ramp, Route 77 and Flying J Truck Access, Route 77 and Vision Parkway, Route 77 and Route 5, and Route 5 and Brick House Road.
Edwards Vacuum’s Andy Marsh, Kingfisher project manager for Edwards Vacuum, said his company will occupy about 50 acres at the West New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in Alabama.
“We claim to be … No. 1 when it comes to R&D (R&D) technology for vacuum and abatement. In fact, in the 80’s we invented the dry pump that STAMP will manufacture. It was Edwards who did,” says Marsh. “Since then, its product range has evolved significantly and[and]remains the standard in the semiconductor industry.” The company employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide and operates in approximately 30 countries. It’s expanding, Marsh said.
“What we are building at STAMP is the product company. Of course, the role of the product company is to design and manufacture the product, then sell it to our customer center network and maintain it through our service centers. ‘ he said.
The project manager said it is customary at Edwards Vacuum to name product companies after where they are located. In this case, Edwards decided to call the company he wanted to move to his hometown “PC Genesee.”
“Hopefully it works for this particular audience,” he said with a laugh.
The first phase of Edwards Vacuum’s “Factory of the Future” will create 343 high-paying careers to support the company’s domestic semiconductor customer base. Over 20 years, the project is expected to generate approximately $13.4 million in revenue for the Town of Alabama, Genesee County, Oakfield Alabama School District, and the Alabama Fire Department.
For the past five years, Edwards Vacuum has been part of the larger Atlas Copco Group, Marsh said.
“Atlas Copco is a very successful Swedish-based engineering company…employing 43,000 people in 180 countries. They have been an almost fantastic parent company to work for.” he said.
When Edwards Vacuum met the GCEDC team, it helped the company decide to come to Jeansee County, Marsh said.
“Coming to this place in the first place was one of the big things that got us going,” he said. “The welcome from Steve (Hyde) and the team and the professionalism we encountered was absolutely overwhelming.”
Atlas Copco USA Holdings Inc. & Subsidiaries (Edwards Vacuum) sought a $4.34 million sales tax exemption and a 20-year property tax relief of approximately $12.85 million.
The GCEDC Board also approved incentives to develop a $6.5 million community solar farm that will generate 4.275 megawatts of clean energy in the town of Pavilion.